Hey Girl Hey!

I'm Javonne Crumby, creator of Lesbionyx-- A space for queer women of color. As a Black woman who loves women, I grew tired of the lack of representation and resources for women like me. So I created a platform for us and by us, because no one tells our stories like us!

A Space for Queer Women of Color

Sep 14

Sep 14 Meet DJ and Producer: Boston Chery

DJ Boston Chery is a sick DJ and producer repping both Canton, MA and Crown Heights Brooklyn, NY. She’s a lit force who turns up all types of dance floors and venues usually rocking a fly fit, headphones and a ‘fro. She is of Haitian, Cuban, Dominican and Jamaican descent. She recently released her Debut EP, Summers With You.

She broke into the DJ scene in 2010, turning up underground parties and basement parties in Brooklyn. She’s come a long way since then, DJ’ing alongside Goldlink and Kaytranada and even being a requested DJ for the past 3 years for Art Basel Miami. She also has regular gigs at very noteworthy events such as Solar Nights at Pianos NYC, Set It Off QPOC Party at Trophy Bar, and most recently Cunt Collective Sex Worker Project at The Museum of Sex!

Have you always wanted to be a DJ or is this something you just ‘fell’ into because you had a certain love for music?

“I didn’t always know I wanted to be a DJ, but as a child I knew for sure that my path was in music. I grew up listening to all kinds of music, like music everyday all day every day. I would study everything from vocals, flow, lyrics, and beats. I became a DJ because I took music everywhere with me. I always had headphones around my neck since middle school then in college I carried my laptop with me everywhere blasting music or always creating a soundtrack as I would chill with people. One day my friend from elementary school’s mom told me I should think about being a DJ. And just like that I looked into it and started doing underground parties, college parties, my own parties and fast forward till now, traveling with music and spreading the vibes everywhere I go.”

“Actually I used to rap in middle school and high school. I also wrote music for some singers I went to school with. Now that I’m back into producing my own beats we will def see what happens from here.”

You have an amazing connection with the QPOC community in NYC. Do you get offered as many opportunities at non-queer events as well?

“I actually just started to get booked at more queer events. I was DJ’ing at mostly non-queer events before last year. I think the only queer event I've done before that was consistent was my fam Bklyn Boi Hood parties.

We live in a world where as a woman, we have to hide or lessen ourselves for the comfort of men. I’m here to say FUUUCK THAT!

— DJ Boston Chery

Why is female DJ representation and visibility important to you?

“Female representation is very important to me. We live in a world where as a woman, we have to hide or lessen ourselves for the comfort of men. I’m here to say FUUUCK THAT! I'm good love, enjoy! Sisterhood is amazing and supporting other women is amazing. We bring life, and I'm just here to spread love to all but also show that, as a woman, I can do anything just as great.”

Have you experienced any gender bias when pitching yourself or applying to DJ at a club?

“I would say in my earlier years as a DJ I experienced this more. In 2018, to be a woman that is a DJ, is beautiful and many people are loving that.”

What’s your favorite genre to DJ?

Tell us about The She Party you curated and what it represents.

“The She Party is an ode to women in music who have paved the way for us. It’s a place that's open to all. The She Party is themed, but not limited, off of great women influences, for example, Beyonce, Rihanna and Missy Elliot. It has been great creating and being in spaces with many people who've shown nothing but love and support not only to me but to each other.”

Do you think social media impacts our view on what a DJ should look like?

“Yes it does— but my homies and I are here changing that! We’re from all different backgrounds, have different styles, femme and masculine women or men. We’re just here to spread love and make you dance.”

What’s the real deal with requesting songs? Is it a nuisance or are they well accepted? Asking for a friend.

“Maaan listen... (laughs). I think it’s the most annoying [to request a song] when I'm in my zone, in the midst of my creative process/adrenaline rush and I'm trying to keep my focus all at once. I'm trying to be my best self for the crowd, and any interruptions can easily throw it off. I've had some good request though at times when I am in the zone and someone requests a song right along with the vibes I was already spinning. So shout out to those good song request people!

“My biggest accomplishments have been Dj’ing in Montreal with Goldlink and Kaytranada, Opening for Teedra Moses in Atlanta, and performing at Art Basel in Miami for 3 years in a row. But I mostly feel that way about a lot of my out of state and international gigs. It was so lit to DJ for the Joy Day Party.”

What’s been your favorite parties to spin for in 2018?

“Dang for Haute Sauce with my good homie Adair, Joy Day Party, Bklyn Boi Hood, umm man I don’t know there were so many lit events this year and so much more to come!”

Let’s switch the track for a moment. Are you seeing anyone right now?

“I am in a relationship with my teenage crush— she's amazing!”

Okay so you MUST have girls throwing themselves at you to dance in your section, and get hooked up with drinks. How do you gently break hearts?

“I can usually tell on the spot if a person is just trying to be cool because I come to people in a cool and approachable manner as well. If she's flirting— I mean in 2018 most women are extremely honest, so I'm honest as well. What’s better than honesty? No broken hearts there right? Keep it moving!”

What do you like doing when your not DJ’ing an event?

“I’m into making beats, being by the water, hanging out, having deep conversations, and just creating in any way.”

Listen to DJ Boston Chery’s debut EP Summers With You below!

You can follow and show love to DJ Boston Chery on Instagram @bostonchery.

Her upcoming gigs are:

September 14: Corazones Sin Fronteras Party at Mood Ring in Bushwick, Brooklyn NYC